To quote Bill Parcells...
Our NFL person Bob Glauber has used this old Bill Parcells line a couple of times this year, but given the last week with the Jets, the quote really captures things perfectly.
In New York, Parcells said, it’s either “euphoria or disaster.”
After blowing out the Titans in their fifth straight victory, the Jets were Super Bowl caliber. After yesterday’s hideous defeat at home to the Broncos, they're leaking major oil.
The reality of what the Jets are rests somewhere in between those two extremes and I still think this year’s Jets team is closer to the positive one rather than the negative. Big picture-wise, the Jets are a more than respectable 8-4, they lead the AFC East by one game and have a relatively soft schedule the rest of the way. On paper their toughest remaining game is Miami, and that’s at home. There was talk of running the table after the Tennessee game, but finishing the season on a 10-game winning streak was probably a bit much to ask. Especially in this year’s NFL where the “any given Sunday” thing has never seemed more apt.
There are real problems, of course, not the least of which is a pass defense that I question has the personnel to get appreciably better. I’m not sure there’s a magic formula to be found in the final four games, other than the Jets, at all costs, have to find a way to get more pressure on the quarterback. It’s basically a two-man secondary with Rhodes and Revis, but at least those other weak spots can get covered up to a degree with a fierce rush. There, obviously, was not a fierce rush yesterday. On another note, there’s a long way to go in this season and much that can still be accomplished, so I’m not starting Draft Day hype quite yet…but secondary help ought to be high on the “needs” board, as should some assistance at linebacker.
* There was an element of yesterday’s game that can be thrown out to “it was just one of those days.” The tackling was atrocious, but the Jets have shown themselves to be a pretty good tackling team overall. Missed tackles are among the “correctable errors” that players talk about after watching film. I don’t think you’ll see another tackling performance like that out of the Jets.
* Eric Mangini made it clear, publicly, that yesterday was unacceptable. That was the first time he’s called out his team since the second week of training camp when he was irritated with an afternoon practice at Hofstra.
"I think that we've established a certain way to play football around here, we've established a certain identity, and it was nothing close to that today,” Mangini said yesterday. “I don't think we played well in any of three phases. I don't think we coached very well and I think when you have that, this is what you get."
Even after bad losses to Oakland and San Diego, Mangini found something positive to say. Not yesterday.
“I'm not really looking for a motivator or a silver lining here," Mangini said. "I'm looking for good football."
* Driving in I heard some criticism of Brett Favre [there was some in writing as well] for saying he would rather play in the snow than the rain. Here’s my problem with the media on this one: we, meaning the press, just kill guys for giving cliché, boring answers that shed much light on anything. But we’ve trained them to do so. Favre gives an honest answer – in which he wasn’t excusing his poor play, by the way – and he gets hammered for it. It’s a lose-lose scenario that causes athletes – and coaches, too – to err on the side of saying nothing. And it’s hard to blame them.
* Now, to today’s schedule. For the first time in over a month there will be player availability in the locker room. On Victory Mondays, players are off and we get a few of them on a conference call. So that will be upcoming after Mangini’s 2:35 p.m. press conference.
* A reminder: Live Chat XIV is coming up tomorrow morning at 11 a.m.
* Oh, and a last thing regarding several season ticket holders who emailed me about this last week: the Jets just sent out invoices for the playoffs in which they requested money for three games when the most the Jets could host is two games. I’ve seen a copy of the invoice and there’s not much in the way of ambiguity: it’s pretty much asking for money for three games. So the team was made aware of the error and on Nov. 25 season ticket holders received a clarification email.
“It has come to our attention that there is some confusion with this year’s Playoff invoices,” the email states. “This week you will be receiving Playoff invoices in the mail. The invoice is also available online. The invoice will contain prices for the Wildcard, Divisional and Championship games. As a season ticket holder you should ONLY play for the Divisional and Championship events. ”
And on it goes in repeating the firm due date for payment and acceptable payment methods.
Nice non-apology and total abdication of responsibility from the organization.
“It has come to our attention that there is some confusion with this year’s Playoff invoices,” is arrogant.
The team caused the confusion, not the fans. So open the damn email by saying, “Our wording was incorrect in the playoff invoices we sent to you, our valued season ticket holders, recently and for that we apologize. What the invoices should have said was…”
C’mon, it’s not that hard.
Back in a bit.
E-mail
Facebook
Digg
Delicious
Comments (14)
EB,
On your last point: Disorganization and indfference by the owner and front office are messages from them that are soon reflected throughout their entire operation. If Syrus didn't say it better in Latin, he should have.
Screwing up the playoff tickets is the latest example of business as usual. You can take the Jets out of Hofstra, but Florham can't take away the incompetence and arrogance that flows from the executive level.
PS: It's not a stretch to say, that confusion at the top works its way down to the field. Of course, the fans are last and least.
Thanks Erik, for calling them on it. One thing is certain. The Jets don't waste money on quality control, public relations or goodwill.
Thanks Erik for you usual common sense. We will bounce back.
RC, that's what the cup holders are for: Goodwill-soothing containment systems.
Erik thank's for that level headed assessment. It's games like yesterday that gives ScottP a jolt of inner "darkiness." You know that happy feeling you get for crying wolf as the wolf nibbles on your skull.
We just had a five game winning streak, and dropped a stupid, sickening game that we should have won. I didn't get the memo that we were going undefeated. We are 8-4, in first place in our division, four games to go, and in control of our destiny. Damn, i hate being in this position. This is the worst possible place to be in! I can't believe the Jets are this horrible! Oh my gawd!
It's like some Jets fans can't take a punch. If you get punched in the nose, do you give up, cry, and take your balls and go home to mommy? I get punched in the mouth, i spit out loose teeth, and prepare to loosen some teeth of my own. I do not fall down, cry and quit. I get back up and give as good as i got. Any man who gives up after a loss shouldn't jump for joy at a win. Hell that bastard should find another hobby on Sunday. No one loses at needlepoint, candyboys!
This is our time! Go Jets!
Eric, how much softer can the schedule get than not doing anything against the 28th ranked Defense? We have some serious issues. On passes to the TE yesterday, our coverage was nowhere to be seen!
We also cant throw downfield which severely limit the offense.
I will be happy and consider the jets exceeding expectations if they win 3-4, and a round in the playoffs.
Exceeding expectations in that they spent HUGE money for this season, I am not sure.
This team has too many holes to go deep.
I will be happy with the above scenario and if we continue next season to fill these holes.
For now, the jets must focus on next week.
Mr GT,
I have given some thought to starting up a full contact needlepoint league. The demand is definitely there. You could put somebodies eye out you know.
I have to vent this out. I come from a practical and analytical background career wise, but have found that the jets defy all stats and logic. Granted, there are many intangibles in football and always deviations, but for the most part it is lucid as to most outcomes, except with the jets.
You can gather facts, stats, and trends , but the jets defy all of the above.
This is why I am hooked on them and will always be!
Lets get it together next week and to hell with the stats!
E.Bola,
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Jets haven't won a 4pm game all season. Is this a trend? How'd they do last year at 4pm? If the trend holds true, expect a loss next Sunday in San Fran.
Throw it all out the window. No ryme or reason with the jets.
Now I know they will win big next week. LOL!
Roger it is never as simple as a stat telling you who will win. These are our Jets. They will win convincingly next week and have us floating high again. Then we will be penciling in another victory against a wounded and floundering Bills team and they will crush us with a loss. We then go to Seattle and win/loose? We will then have a wildcard spot available if we can beat Chad. Something tells me he will be motivated.
Well it makes for an interesting season, but I would rather not have the anxiety they historically create. If they are a good team they should win out against "inferior" competition with everything at stake.
Hey Boland, anybody ask anything about fake injuries from the Broncos players? Dre Bly admitted to staying down on purpose, is this against any league rules:
"Just a bruise on my shin," Bly said. "You know (Jets quarterback) Brett (Favre), him being a savvy vet, when he sees somebody down, he likes to do a no-huddle, catch a defense off balance. I knew that, so I just laid on the ground and let the pain go away. . . . But that's one thing you have to do - you have injuries, anything that's bothering you, stay on the ground, don't try to be Superman and rush back up because it can hurt your defense."
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/30/broncos-report-instant-replay-plays-big-role-outco/
dmb, yeah, i saw that quote as well. players were skeptical today when I asked a few about it. B. Moore said the next Broncos injury list would probably be about "half" the team. It's a gray area in the rule book to be honest because if a guy says he's in pain, how do you decide he's not? i'm surprised bly admitted to it.
Erik, did they throw out the defensive playbook yet, and starting thinking of new things? They gotta start figuring out ways to get more pressure and cover better.
Can we please stop sending BT and Pace out into coverage. Let them blitz and do what they are best at.
Mr green T is this you? :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8lT1o0sDwI&feature=related
Welker gets jacked up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaPPHcBm4ro&feature=related
Roger - it will be 4 p.m. in NY, but 1 p.m. in SF - does that count?